Improvement in toothpicks



waited* gitana @sind @Mina 1 ALPHONS KEIZER, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, THOMAS RICHARDSON, ANDV JOHN NEATH, 0F SAME PLAGE.

Letters Patent No. 90,855, dated June 1, 1869.

IMPRQVEMENT IN TooTHPI'cKs.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALPHONs KRIZEK, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Toothpick; and I do hereby declare th'e following to be a full, clear,4and exact description of the same.

My invention consists of a toothpick, which, in ad-j dition to the ordinary sharpened endl1as a pointed' hook, and blunt, spoon-shaped projection, as fully described hereafter, the advantages of the instrument being, that by its aid all adhering particles can be detached from the teeth, and hollow or sensitive teeth cleaned without pain.

In order to enable others tomake and use my' invention, I will noiv proceedto describe the method of making and using the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in whichf Figure lis a side view of my improved -toothpick,

and

Figure 2, a modication of the same.

The instrument may be made of ivory, bone, hard wood, or other suitable material, and consists of a stem, A, which-is slightly curved, as seen in iig. l, and terminates, at one end, in a sharp point,'a, the opposite end of the said stem being so curved, or bent as to form a pointed hook, b, at the back of which is aspoon-shaped projection, c.

` In using the instrument, the stem A is held between the thumb and finger, inf such a manner that either end can be inserted into-the mouth, and the point a, as in ordinary toothpicks, is used for detaching particles of food, 85o., from between the teeth, while the opposite, or hooked end Vb, enables the teeth to be cleaned from the inside inamannei: which cannot be yaccomplished bymeans of a straight instrument.

One object of the spoon-like projection c is to clean out hollow or sensitive teeth into/ whichV the sharp point a could not be inserted without giving pain; another object being'to cleanse the teeth of tartar at points adjacent to or beneath the gums.

It is not essential, in carrying out my invention, that there should be a long stem, A, as in .Sonie cases the instrument may be made in sections, jointed to and Y arranged to fold within a suitable handle, as shown in Atig. 2, and in other instances the pointed end, (l, may

be altogether dispensed with, or may be made to project from the hack of the hook b, in place of the projection c, while the latter can be arranged at the end of the stemA.

Witho'ut, therefore, confining myself` to an instrument of the precise form shown in the drawing,

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- ,A toothpiok having a pointed hook, b, and spoon` shaped projection, c, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of t'wo subscribing witn/esses.

ALPHQNS KRIZEK.

Witnesses:

J 01am Wurm, HARRY SMITH. 

